“CME has been through years of testing alternative-fuel vehicles and we’re now ready to speak about our satisfaction with the performance of propane autogas,” said Robert Tschupp, vice president and general manager of CME. “Propane autogas has become the alternative fuel of choice for the shared-ride industry. This domestic fuel is not only more economical than gasoline, its clean-burning properties work to preserve the pristine environment in which we live and work — something that is extremely important to our company.”

CME’s four 15-passenger ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas powered Ford E-350 vans have been serving Vail resorts during the past year while the company has been evaluating performance and savings. CME’s price for propane autogas averages $1.72 per gallon, compared to the current average cost for gasoline at $3.80 per gallon in the area, according to the company.

According to Tschupp, each van is saving CME more than $18,600 at the pump and emitting 42,689 less lbs. of carbon dioxide during the 160,000-mile life expectancy of each van.

For refueling the vans, CME worked with Ferrellgas to find publically accessible refueling locations most convenient for the company, given the areas they serve. “The fact that propane autogas has such a strong refueling network already in place was appealing to us when we weighed this alternative option against other clean fuels,” said Tschupp.

CME’s shuttle vans deliver the performance they require, especially important in this mountainous region. The ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas vans offer equivalent horsepower, torque and towing capacity compared to gasoline versions of the same models, with the additional benefit of 20 percent less nitrogen oxide emissions, 60 percent less carbon monoxide emissions, and up to 25 percent less greenhouse gases.

“CME joins a host of shared-ride transportation companies across the country that have taken notice of the benefits propane autogas brings to the table — not only for their company, but for their customers,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Whether the focus is on economics or the environment, propane autogas is the right choice for customers like CME working to create a more sustainable future for our nation and cleaner skies for their communities.”

CME’s vehicle fleet consists of more than 250 vans and luxury SUVs, and transports approximately 350,000 resort guests each year.

Propane Autogas – Conversions and Infrastructure

Propane may be a viable option for certain fleets looking for an alternative fuel source. While converting a vehicle to a propane system comes with a high initial cost, the system may come with reduced lifecycle costs over the course of that vehicle's life.

Emily O'Malley and Michael Taylor from the Propane Education & Research Council talk about how truck fleets can find cost savings with propane autogas, and Ed Hoffman from Alliance Autogas showcases a bi-fuel propane autogas vehicle.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) launched an online map designed to showcase the growing number of fleets in a variety of markets that use propane autogas to fuel their trucks, vans, buses, and sedans.

Propane autogas vehicles provide a lot of value when it is time to replace or retire the asset, whether fleet owners plan to sell privately, at a public auction, or trade-in the vehicle. Here are a few things to consider when making the decision.